Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-23
HOLIDAY IN JAPAN.
Novel and Picturesque Metheds of Cele brat1ng New Years Day.
 ITror tlno Gnn ord Port l

Novel and Picturesque Methods of Cele- brating New Years Day. From the Hartford Post.l
 Mrs. H. H. Thompson writing in The Cos mopoiitan of the holidays of Japanese says: New Years day is not altogether a holiday. The national idea of justice is shown by the law requiring all debts to be adjusted at the beginning of the year. Therefore, no one gives himself up to unrestrained enjoyment on this day until his accounts are satisfactor- fly arranged.
 On this day, for which we had been I'm patiently waiting, we prepared to go every where and see everything. Festive prepara- tions had been going on for many days, such as thoroughly renovating and cleaning houses, planting evergreen and bamboo branches along the streets and on either side of the vestibules and doorways. The bakeries were teeming with delicacies. Professional rice pounders, with their immense mortars and pestes, were hurrying from house to house. Flowers and ornamental shrubs of exquis- ite varieties were sold on every street and shops displayed their daintiest wares and toys.
 An interesting custom prevails in prepar- ing the home feast-to provide liberal sup ply of food for the poorer neighbor. Each house, too, must be decorated which is not difficult task in this e7er-blooming land Every house and street was brilliantly illum- mated for the inauguration of the new year; in fact, the entire city, bay and adjoining country presented bri1liancy that we never saw equalled. During the morning 8 Sab- bath-Gke stiffness prevails, while accounts are being adjusted. Indeed, it has been said that New Years day is the only Sabbath of Japan. After that, all is astir; every one in festive garments and with smiling face ex- changing polite greetings.
 The Japanese are well trained in the laws of good breeding, and, in their several grades, seldom offend the rules, joyous freedom is extended to every one on this day of days. Various styles of reception cards are carried through the streets on elegant lacquered trays by obsequious servants. It is the custom of Japanese merchants to send as gifts to the families of their customers beautiful fans and toys of exquisite designs.
 One of the most popular amusements of the day is masquerade, in which parents, children and servants delight in puzzling one another by personifying various families of rank. Here and there fathers, with their { big and little boys, are intent upon the use of the top, with which they are very expert, I while groups of pretty girls and young wom- \ en play merrily with battledore and shuttle cock. At one time we were mystifed by sweet, musical sounds in the air, resembling ! those proceedings from an Eolian harp, and | discovered that these came from great num- Der of kites flying over the city. Our Japan ese teacher and interpreter explained this mystery by showing us trip of fine bam- boo stretched across the frame of the kite. \ Among the toys are bows and arrows, arr tifcial birds and hens and chickens, true to nature: charming dolls, parading the streets with automatic regularity; families of mice, rabbits and monkeys; eggs ana fruits in brilliant colored crates. Here are ocfc in, combat; there, feats of jugglery that as- tonish the beholder. Here, playing bat tledore and shuttlecock, is bevy of pretty girls, dressed in their gayest robes and gir- dies, with lips and cheeks painted till they resemble beetles wings, and their beautiful hair dressed most curiously and attractive ly. There, a knot Of boys are laughing uproariously over huge image of Daruma, the snowman of the northern and western coasts. In America the boys snowman is Paddy with hat, clay pipe and shillalah in hand; but in Japan the show image is Dasuma, a follower of Buddha, who by long prayers in kneeling posture lost his legs from paralysis.
 Banouets are spread in the streets for the police, and for the benefit of those that prefer this repast to the more private din ner at home. Buckets, barrels and porce lain jars are everywhere overhoW1ng With new saki, which everybody drinks, and yet, to the credit of these people be 1t said, there is little drunkenness. Far into the night
 some religious ceremony is enacted by the
 head of each household, and by the priest in
 their temples, by which all evil spirits brood ing about on wrong indent are said to be ex-
 ercised: and thus the day is ended.
 The Japanese are determined to enjoy life
 as they 90. All classes may be seen leaving
 their homes to go on short journeys into
 the country, where, under the shade of
 blossoming fruit trees, or in one of the end
 less tea houses, they may rest, refresh and
 enjoy themselves. We often observed family
 groups visiting the suburbs, or temples, or
 statues on some high hill, with apparently
 no other object than to view the landscape
 under light fall of snow, or to gather
 some of nature's treasures to adorn the
 grottoed wall, or miniature lake, in the
 bit of garden at home, or to amuse the chil-
 daen.